The Editor:

An analysis of the Rt. Hon. PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s words on CARCOM can be summarised as CARICOM needs fixing, unity weak. Clear disagreement that CARICOM is a totally peaceful region.

At no point PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar said CARICOM should be disbanded, let’s get a divorce, scrap the annual meeting and other death knell comments. Looking to expand exports outside of CARICOM is older than sugar and the UK’s Tate & Lyle and perhaps 90% of tourism in the Caribbean is based on targeting extra-regional tourists.

When last did any CARICOM leader mention that CARICOM progress is going almost nowhere fast? Which pundit said ‘the PM is right’, ‘I agree’. In summary, frank statements leads to more in-depth discussions whereas not saying anything is useless. Progress happens when we discuss the good and the bad, as mature grown-ups.

We also have this naïveté that extra-regional countries are out of the loop, do not know, so we ought not publicise the bad but the reality is that the extra-regional diplomats and expats based in CARICOM already know as much as you do. Do you think they don’t know how many tenants Phoenix Park Industrial Estate has landed or the state of progress on the Brechin Castle solar park? They can go today, take photos and report overseas first-hand, before leaving the location. And the diplomats and expats already know everything, in the public domain, you know about every CARICOM politician, corrupt or not corrupt.

Whilst Jamaica and others eke out recovery and rebuilding following hurricane Melissa, while our cities face flash flooding, whilst we wait for the next hurricane or ITCZ because we all know they’re coming, we instead waste time shooting messengers for speaking the truth.

Also is the fall back excuse by immature people about ‘it’s not what you say, it is how you say it.’ Always uttered by others wanting an excuse to do nothing and perhaps the most used ‘shoot the messenger’ statement. Here I refer to all in society. From our experiences, from facing it directly, mature grown-ups know that people speak differently, words and tones vary and in the real world, anyone can say anything and either they will be sued, become a PNG, get away with it, be forgiven and although rare, even praised.

And we do have some unity in CARICOM and the West Indies – everyone agrees that when the West Indies won the 1975 and 1979 Cricket World Cups, the West Indies did not beat the best teams, the West Indies was already the best team in the world.

A safe Christmas season to all near and far.

Shanaz SukhdeoCARICOM